Methods and apparatus for managing computing resources based on yield management framework

Abstract

Yield management techniques are provided. In one aspect of the invention, a technique for managing one or more computing resources comprises the following steps / operations. Data associated with at least one potential demand for use of the one or more computing resources is obtained. Then, a management model (e.g., a yield management model or a revenue management model) is generated in accordance with at least a portion of the obtained data, wherein the management model is operative to determine an allocation of the one or more computing resources based on combinations of price levels and service levels that may be offered to one or more users of the one or more computing resources so as to attempt to satisfy at least one management goal.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to techniques for managing computing resources and, more particularly, to techniques for managing computing resources based on a yield management framework. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] It is known that a group of computing resources that perform one or more related functions may be referred to as a “computing center.” Typically, a computing center may be composed of a number of processor resources (e.g., servers), disk storage, applications, software tools, and internal communication links between the various devices and with the external clients. Clients send their jobs to the system through an external network and jobs are queued and processed through the system. Results may be received by clients during the process or only at the end of the process. Computing centers may take on a number of forms such as, for example, web server farms, scientific computing centers, or on-demand facilities for general computing use...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] The present invention provides yield management techniques. It is to be understood that such yield management techniques may be implemented in accordance with existing resource management tools. For example, a management model computed in

Problems solved by technology

YOR920010031US1), filed on Apr. 10, 2001, and entitled “Apparatus and Methods for Maximizing Service-Level-Agreement Profits,” involves combining more detailed, service-oriented characteristics, such as “service classes,” and performing the resource allocation to those clients with the goal of revenue maximization through some unit revenue for job satisfaction and some unit cost (penalty) for non-satisfaction of the service level agreement offered to that “service class.“However, this latter methodology, while it may consider revenue in view of resource allocation, it does not allow, as controls, anything other than the resource allocation (that is, the answer to the question “where is the client's request placed in the system?”) and the job scheduling (that is, the answer to the question “in what order are the requests carried out at each location of the system?”).

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